4 6 chloro 2 (4 cyanophenyl)amino 4 pyrimidinyl oxy 3 5 dimethyl benzonitrile is a key intermediate for the preparation of etravirine. The present invention provides a process for preparation of 4 6 chloro 2 (4 cyanophenyl)amino 4 pyrimidinyl oxy 3 5 dimethylbenzonitrile. The present invention also provides a novel process for the preparation of etravirine crystalline form I. The present invention further provides novel crystalline forms of etravirine processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.